What's Happening?
The Iowa State Cyclones women's basketball team achieved a decisive victory over the Northern Iowa Panthers, winning 81-53. The game took place in Ames, Iowa, where Addy Brown led the Cyclones with a season-high
28 points, 21 of which were scored in the first half. The Cyclones played without their national scoring leader, Audi Crooks, who averages 27.6 points per game and was sidelined due to an injury sustained in a previous game against Iowa. Alisa Williams stepped in for Crooks, contributing 11 points and five rebounds. The Cyclones, now 12-0, are off to their best start since the 2013-14 season. They capitalized on the Panthers' 16 turnovers, scoring 22 points off these errors, and maintained a strong shooting performance with 12 of 29 successful three-point attempts.
Why It's Important?
This victory underscores Iowa State's strong performance this season, maintaining an undefeated record and demonstrating depth in their roster despite the absence of a key player. The Cyclones' ability to adapt and perform without Audi Crooks highlights their potential as a formidable team in the Big 12 conference. The win also serves as a significant morale booster, as they prepare to enter conference play. For Northern Iowa, the loss marks a challenging season, especially against top-ranked opponents, and highlights areas for improvement as they continue their schedule.
What's Next?
Iowa State will begin their Big 12 conference play with a home game against Kansas, which will be a critical test of their capabilities against conference rivals. Meanwhile, Northern Iowa will travel to face St. Thomas, seeking to rebound from this loss and improve their standing. Both teams will need to strategize and adjust their gameplay to address the challenges posed by their upcoming opponents.
